Gwendolyn Sontheim Meyer: A Billionaire’s Journey

Overview

Gwendolyn Sontheim Meyer is an American billionaire and heiress to the Cargill fortune – one of the largest privately held corporations in America. She is reportedly the 58th wealthiest person in the United States with a net worth of $5.6 billion, as of 2021. Meyer’s fortune comes from her stake in Cargill, as well as her investment in the family-owned conglomerate the Carlson Group.

Early Life and Education

Born on September 2, 1958, in Wichita, Kansas, Gwendolyn “Wendy” Sontheim Meyer is the youngest daughter of Ruth and Whitney MacMillan, heirs to the Cargill fortune. Growing up, Meyer and her three siblings lived a life of privilege and luxury. She attended the elite all-girls school Breck School in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Meyer went on to study political science at the University of Colorado Boulder, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. She later obtained a Juris Doctor degree from the William Mitchell College of Law in Saint Paul.

Career and Achievements

After obtaining her law degree, Meyer began practicing law in Minneapolis. She also served as a clerk for the Court of Appeals in Saint Paul. However, she soon left the legal profession to join her family’s business.

Meyer serves on the board of the Carlson Group, which includes brands such as Radisson Hotels, Country Inns & Suites, and TGI Fridays. She is also a member of the Cargill-MacMillan family, the wealthiest family in America that owns Cargill, an agricultural conglomerate.

Apart from her involvement in the family businesses, Meyer is also a philanthropist, supporting causes that aim to improve the lives of children and animals. She has donated tens of millions of dollars to various charities, including the Animal Humane Society and the Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota.

Personal Life

Meyer is notoriously private and prefers to stay out of the limelight. She lives in Minnesota with her husband, John R. Meyer, and their three children. She is known to have a passion for horses and owns a 350-acre horse farm in Wellington, Florida, where she breeds Arabian horses.

Profile